Once ubiquitous throughout Southern California, the croaker has been pushed to the brink of extinction by disease, habitat encroachment, and then the fires that have ravaged the San Bernardino Mountains.

A rescue project involving the zoo and several state and federal agencies to save the yellow-legged frog has had its ups and downs. But now with the 62 new frogs, hopes abound that egg production will follow and eggs can be returned to the wild.

No one is declaring victory, but specialists on amphibians report "lots of breeding" going on.